Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills defense has been good, but the Chiefs have been better...
The Buffalo Bills defense has been solid-not-spectacular in the 2024 NFL season and was that way again against the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round. They’re going to have to step up their game in the AFC Championship Game, because unlike the Baltimore Ravens, the Chiefs aren’t going to beat themselves.
In their previous meeting this season, the Bills forced two turnovers — both were interceptions by Patrick Mahomes. One was on KC’s first drive of the game and the other was the game-clincher on the final drive. Buffalo drove down and scored a touchdown after the first and took a knee to salt away the game after the final one. Obviously, very important.
Here’s the thing; the Chiefs haven’t committed a single turnover since that fourth-quarter pick on November 17th. That’s two months and eight games since they last time they gave away the ball.
Sure, they’ve put it on the ground a couple times and threw a few passes that could have been picked in the interim, but they’ve been very careful with the football.
Buffalo finished the season third in the NFL with 32 turnovers forced by the defense and first in turnover percentage. While they were fourth-worst in third-down conversions allowed, 17th in yards allowed, and 22nd in yards per play allowed, those turnovers helped them get off the field and hold opponent scoring down.
The Bills haven’t lost the turnover battle in a single game this season. They’ll want to keep that stat going on Sunday, but the Chiefs just haven’t been putting the ball at risk in the second half of the season.
